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A.R.N. Funeral & Cremation Services-
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11411 N. Michigan Road
Zionsville, IN 46077
1922
Sylvia
2018
Sylvia Ann Epstein Hochman
February 17, 1922 — September 25, 2018
Sylvia ‘Syl' Ann (Epstein) Hochman,
96, wife of Harry Hochman (deceased) Sam's Subway Restaurants, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2018.
Sylvia loved to read especially inspirational books. She called books her friends. And all of her children loved to read as well. Her son Jhan even wrote a book that she loved to brag about. The book was GREEN CULTURAL STUDIES. Sylvia was very personable and friendly, knew no strangers, had a great sense of humor and loved to make people laugh. "If I can do the following three things each day, I am happy. Take care of my daily living needs; Thank God for my blessings, and make someone happy. I always look for humor in everything, no matter what is happening in my life. I like to hear people laugh. In fact, I would concentrate as I listened to jokes being told, as I could not tell them well. I finally learned to tell jokes when I was 70 years old."
Sylvia was president of the Toastmistress Club. She was a member of Hooverwood Guild for over 20 years and she volunteered with several charities. "Because I have varied interests and like to stay active, I belong to the Women of Worth (WOWS). We are a group of 10 diversified women who meet every two months for a program of the hostess' choosing. The subjects of our luncheon meetings relate to various topics of interest, ranging from cultural, current events, and life issues. We have discussed many subjects and had multiple presenters that focus on learning. I have also participated in multiple OASIS classes, taken jazz as an adult, and try to walk on my treadmill every morning. All in all, I enjoy people and I love to hear them laugh."
Sylvia continued to write poetry, well into her nineties.
HO HUM
By Sylvia Hochman
Growing old is not all fun or a game
Nothing I do seems to be the same
I now walk at a slower pace
But my heart and pulse just want to race
The blood pressure is always like a yoyo
I never know whether it's going to be high or low
It's a puzzle, the answers I would like to know
Every day brings a new ‘'problem'' to solve
Tune in tomorrow to see what might evolve
Whenever I need a screw
Ace Hardware always has a few
Getting down for something on the floor is really a chore
Or climbing up for something in a drawer
But I really can't complain anymore
I thank God for all my family and pray
For every moment which is a miracle each day
So here's a toast to getting old
It's certainly not for weaklings; you really have to be bold!!
P.S. when you are young you are menstruating
When you are old you are fibrillating
Now, isn't that stimulating?
Or exhilarating or sometimes just debilitating?!
Sylvia also loved to dance. While at Shortridge High School she performed in the Shortridge Junior Vaudeville. In a play, she was Minnie Haha . Later in life, she could still recite "By the shores of Gitchie Goomee". She got married and raised a family and that superseded any further stage performances.
Sylvia had a younger sister, Lenora, and a younger brother, Joe. Lena and Sam were her parents. Harry and Sylvia had four children, Stephen, Linda, Jhan and Faith. Grandchildren include Allison, Claire Heffner, Kelsea Cadore, Kai and Keve Cohen.
Sylvia learned through her family to exhibit unbelievable patience and forbearance. Living across the street from Holiday Park provided a menagerie at our house growing up, thanks to son Steve. He liked to rescue hurt animals and help them heal; cracked turtle shells, a squirrel hit by a car, and a sick rabbit, to name a few. Once he brought home a big fat bullfrog, in secret, and hid it in the bathtub with the shower curtain closed. That night our Aunt Gwen, who was staying at our house went to the bathroom and was greeted with a deep, loud croak (hello from the bullfrog). She screamed. Daughter Linda wrote a poem and won a radio contest. Her prize was Charlie Brown, a young beautiful, sweet wooly monkey. Unfortunately, Linda was in Colorado on a ski trip so Steve and Harry picked up Charlie Brown. Sylvia was petrified. Eventually, we had to "give our zoo to our monkey" because Sylvia was home alone with Charlie and he got out of his "cage" and made caca all over the entire linen closet. The bill for cleaning all of that was several hundred dollars. She loved to tell that story.
Avinu Malkenu, was her favorite personal meditation. She especially loved to hear Barbra Streisand sing it. Here is the translation of Avinu Malkenu.
"Avinu Malkenu, bless my family with peace. Teach us to appreciate the treasure of our lives. Help us to find contentment in one another. Save us from dissension and jealousy; shield us from pettiness and rivalry. May selfish pride not divide us; may pride in one another unite us. Help us to renew our love for one another continually in the light of Your Torah grant us, the people Israel and all your children everywhere, health and fulfillment, harmony, peace and joy. Amen."
Another favorite song of hers was My Yiddisha Mama.
Sylvia believed in miracles. "I believe in miracles and I believe that each day is filled with miracle moments." "Our youngest child Faith weighed two pounds at birth. Faith's daughter Kai weighed 2 pounds at birth as well." In honor of Faith, Sylvia contributed to the neonatal unit where Faith was born. Later in Sylvia's life her granddaughter, Claire, survived a fall in Clifty Falls State Park. Claire fell 225 feet into trees and boulders.
Harry Hochman was the love of Sylvia's life. "I married at 18, after I attended a year of college. Harry was 23 and in 1942 he joined the Army and fought in five battles. Our son, Stephen, was 2 weeks old when he left and Harry was gone for three years. He was wounded and came back in a body cast that went from his chest to his ankles." At one time, Harry and his family owned and managed 6 Sam's Subway restaurants in Indianapolis.
Some "Pearls of Wisdom" Sylvia imparted to her children are:
pray, (or just be grateful to God for his beneficence);
go to bed on time;
say no to projects that will not fit into your schedule or that will compromise your mental health; delegate tasks to capable others;
unclutter your life;
allow extra time to do things and get to places;
live within your budget;
have backups (extra car keys in wallet, house keys buried in your garden, extra stamps);
do something for the kid in you every day;
carry a spiritually enlightening book with you to read while you are waiting in line;
eat right;
get organized so everything has a place;
write down your thoughts and inspirations;
every day find time to be alone;
remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "thank you God";
laugh;
laugh some more;
take your work seriously but not yourself;
develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can);
slow down;
God has a way of turning things around for you.
We would like to extend our utmost gratitude to EVERYONE who cared for SYLVIA. Thank you for enriching her life and spirit. Thank you Dr. Alan Berkovitz, caregivers and friends at Morningside, St. Vincent Hospital, and Hooverwood.
Here are two pieces that Sylvia didn't write but loved to share and read: please enjoy.
IRISH BLESSING
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your face.
And until we meet again.
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
TO THOSE I HAVE LOVED AND TO THOSE WHO LOVED ME,
When I am gone, release me, let me go. I have so many things to see and do. You mustn't tie yourself to me with tears,
Be happy that we had so many years.
I gave you my love, you can only guess How much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you have shown
But now it's time I travel on alone.
So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must Then let your grief be comforted by trust. It's only for a little while that we must part,
So bless the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on. So if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near.
And if you listen with your heart you'll hear
All of my love around you soft and dear.
And then, when you must come this way alone I'll greet you with a smile and "Welcome Home."
We also want to share
Then Almitra spoke, saying, "We would ask now of Death." And he said: You would know the secret of death. But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life? The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light. If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life. For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one. In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour. Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king? Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling? For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun? And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered? Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance. from THE PROPHET BY KAHLIL GIBRAN
REST IN ETERNAL PEACE SYLVIA HOCHMAN AND KNOW YOU ARE LOVED ...
She was a devoted, loving, appreciative mother and wife to her family: Stephen (Julie, deceased), Linda (Wesley) Cadore, Jhan, Faith (KC) Cohen; several grandchildren; and brother, Joe (Esther) Epstein. Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Hochman.
Services will be held at Aaron Ruben Nelson Mortuary, 11411 N. Michigan Rd., on Friday, September 28th at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers, please made a contribution the Hooverwood Guild or a charity of your choice.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sylvia Ann Epstein Hochman, please visit our flower store.
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